Coupling and steering device for automobiles



Dec. 4, 1928.

A. w. NORDGREN COUPLING AND STEERING DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Sept. 50. 1926 fiz/wzfozv wf/ 0/ W 270/52 1 g7 afZ/arzzv f Patented Dec. 4, 1925 5. 7 1

ALGOT W. NORDGREN, OFST.

CO PLING-Ann srnnmnennvroni on AUTOMOBILES. j

' Application filed September30,-1926 serial'lq'o. 138,637; 7'

The object of-Iny invention is to'provide a coupling and steering devicei'or' automobiles wherein a trailed or towed automobile may be connected tothe rearof L another auv 5 tomobile in-such mann'e'r'as Will cause the trailed vehicleto be steered properly and follow the front" automobile without the necessityof having a driver for theto-wed automobile, the parts of the device being upon various makes and styles of 'automo biles. j

More particularly it- 'is my invention to provide a device wherein axles and steering and easily connected to my tow pole regard less of the different sizesfandishape'sof the axles 1 and steering rods, as "Well as taking care of axles and tie rods that are difierent distances apart or difierent heightsrelative "to ground level." I

Still a'further object-is to provide a fitting adapted to take care of, tubular*axles'and havingparts thereon so that the tow pole r may beconn'e ctedtheretothe samefas lt may' be connected to an' ordinary Ii-beam axle';

l/Vith these "and"other objectsin view,-my

invention consists in the construction, ar rangement and combinatlon' of the "VE'L'IIOLIS plated are attained, asherein'after more fully set iorth pointed out inmy claim, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in

which proved tow pole.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of-thesame installedfupon the frontaxle and steering 7 at its forward end an eye fitting 12 adapted simple," durable an'd readily adapted for use?- thereto by a rivet or the like 18. T

rods ofautomobiles in towmaybe quickly parts of my coupling andsteering device for automobiles, whereby the objects contem--- Figure 1 is a-perspective ;view ofmy im---' to have a contracted portion received in the front end of the tube and securedthereto by ariv'et or the likeltg;

The eye fitting 12 is adapted to coact with an or'din'ary hook of anysuitable kind that may befixed at anycon'venientplace upon the rear end of the automobile commonly known as a Wrecker that cloesthe't'owing Work.-

PAUL, ivirmvns'oranssrenon 'ro naiteunrrn new.

FAoTURIne COMPANY. .1

Secured to the rear end of the tube or pipe 10 is a clevis fitting 16 having a socket intowhichthe tube'10 extends and is secured:

An'axle clamp unit 'A is connected the' Q clevis fitting 16 by the bolt 20 for allowing pivotal movement ofthe entire unit The unit A includes a plate; or support 22 upon whichis'mountedaC shaped clamp member 'Dhemember' zr is fbnnedwith an o ening through which? is extended a bolt 26; The bolt-26 may be received ineitherrof the open ings' 28' formedin the plate or-"s'upport 22;

Tlieenti re clamp member 24 is capable of pivotal movementupona vertical axis. The

I bolt 26 serves as the axisfor-the clam-pmeiIi-y ber 24. 1 g

The C shaped portion or over-hanging flange 30f adapted to extend over-the lower flange off an I beain 7 axle 32'." i

Adj uStably mounted Within the'axlem'ein ber' 2a are therho'ok bolts-34. The hook bolts 3& are designed to engage the "lOWQI' flange of'the I be'am* axle 32 ontheoppos-ite side from the fiange 3O so thatl when the nuts 36 upon'the hook b0l-t's34: aretightened the axle" 32' willbe securely held to the C-shaped axle clam-p me'mber 2d. I

Axlesoi di-fierent sizes may be engaged by the I member 7 24 due to the adj-ustability of the 'hookbolts 34; It will be notedthat the entire axle .u'nit A may be p'ivotally moved relatively to the tow pole or tubelO upon the 1 piv0t"bolt 20: Such pivotal movemeae'be:

ing had only on a horizontal axis.

Pivotally connected to the rear end of the plate 22 is a continuation of atowpole in the form of a short rod 38. The r0d38 is pivotally mounted upon the bolt 40' which in turn is journalled in the plate 22 as clearly illustrated in Figures 1 and 3 ofthe drawings.

The rod 38 is therefore capable of movement relative to the entire axle unit A, upon a horizontal axis.

I Mounted upon'theaxle 32 are the steerable front wheels 42 which are connected together by a steering rod 44 positionedrearwardly I of the axle 32: The steering'rod is 0011.

nected to thesteerable wheels 42 through the short arms 46. .1 p

. Longitudinal movement of the steering rod 44 will impart steering movement to the frontwheels of the automobile as indicated in the dotted lines in Figure 2 of the drawmgs. Y p;

In order to properly steer the towed vehiclewithout the service of a dri-ver, it is necessary to have a proper connection between y the axle 32'and the steering rod 44 made by thantheplate 50 and is formed. with an;

use of my tow pole and this particularly in cludesthe rod38.

Upon the steering rod 44 I mount a clamp unit B which includes a pair of separate plates .48 and 50 connected together by bolts or the like, 52. ,The plates 48 and 50 upon their adjacent surfaces are each formed with agroove'adapted to receive the steering rod bolts 52 aretightened ,thetwo plates 48 and 50 rigidly engage the steering rod 44. The plate 48 is considerably longer opening 54 which has its inner Walls counterj-sunk in opposite directions. I

54 and due to the counter-sunk'walls of theopening, thefrod is capable of, a certain amount of pivotal orrather universal movement relative to the clamp unit B.

Movement of the tow pole or tube 10 in the direction indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 2 of the drawings, will cause. the entire structure withthe exception-of the axle clamp 24'to pivot relative to the front axle 32 upon the bolt 26 as a pivot; point.

The arrangement of the pivot bolts 20 and 40 is such as to allow for'up and down pivotal movement of the parts relative to each other butwill not allow any sidewise movement so that when the tow pole or tube 10' is moved sidewise, all of the parts that is, the .plate 22 and rod 38, willinove as though 7 The rod 38 extends through the opening Such movem'ent will cause the rod 38 to. move the steering rod 44 in. the same direc tion as does, the tow pole proper or tube 10., Ittherefore follows, that the Vehicle in tow] willbe properly steered-and will follow theso-calledwrecker? 56. The adaptor 56 includes'a pair of semicylindrical members hingedly. connected together and having their twov free edges formed with outturned hooks 58.

The adaptor 56 is designed-to be mounted" upon a tubular axlez60 and the overhanging flange 30 ofv the'1nember24 engagesone'of,

thehooks 58 while the hookbolts 34 engage theother hook member 58 ofthe adaptor-56' Some changes may bemade in the construction and arrangementof the parts. of

my device without departing from the real .I claim as myinvention: In combination with the axle of an automobile having steerable wheels thereon and steeringrodi connecting the wheels where-v by longitudinal movement of the steering rod imparts; steering movement tot-he steerable. wheels,.a tow. pole comprising an axle.

. clamp, said ,clamp havingmeans'for engagg 111g two-sldesof the axle, an. adapter comprising a hinged band. having hooked ends spirit and purpose of my invention and it .is. my intention to cover by my claim, any

modified forms of structure or use of mech'anical equivalents, which may be reason- 1 ably included within their scope.

adapted tobeengaged by said. last men tioned means, a connecting member pivoted thereto for swinging movement in a horizon tal plane, a rod pivoted to said connecting member for swinging movement in a vertical plane to provide for steering rods of dif- :t'erent heightsrelative to the'axle, a steer-V ing rod. clamp having an opening thereintapered from each end thereof for slidably and loosely receiving said rod to provide for. steering rods of different distances from the, axle and to allow-lateral swinging movement of said rod relative to the steering rod clamp, and a draw bar connected to saidpconnecting member and havingfa'stening means .at 1ts forward end.

Des Moines, Iowa, September 15, 1926. I I i AL'eo'r w. NORDGREN. V 

